Will Steelers suffer runner-up curse?
February, 10, 2011
Feb 10 1:00 PM EThttp://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post?id=37412
By James Walker
History has proven the emotion of losing a Super Bowl is one of the toughest things to overcome in the NFL. It takes so much work, dedication and things to go your way just to get to the big game. So to fall short is difficult to overcome for most franchises.

Now that Super Bowl XLV is in the books, it's time to ask a key question: Will the Pittsburgh Steelers fall victim to the runner-up curse in 2011?

Over the past decade, seven of the last 10 teams to lose in Super Bowls have failed even to make the playoffs the following year. Of the three teams that made the postseason, no team returned to the title game.

Pittsburgh, one of the NFL's most consistent franchises, believes it has the talent and veteran leadership to compete for another championship next season. But the Steelers will have to overcome a lot of negative history.

Even when Pgh WINS the big show, they often have
a bad season the next year. Add in that they were not
the winner, and are in extra jeopardy as falling from the
"SB Loser Curse" - a down season would not surprise
me in the least. I also would not be shocked if they remained
a contender, but having an off season is certainly at least 50-50
in my mind.

not this team imo. our offensive line will be much improved next year, and we have a lot of youth in skill positions that will only get better with another offseason in training camp.

we just need to address some issues in the defensive secondary and get some new faces in there, but we will be back in the playoffs at LEAST.

Whoever thought we would miss the play offs in 2009, after we win a SB
in 2008, after having one of the hardest schedules ever, followed by the
2009 season, where we had - on paper - one of the easiest schedules ever?

We didn't see the collapse and 5-game losing streak coming, with losses
to the horrid (at the time) Chiefs, Raiders and Browns.

I could see Pgh having a hang over from this. I think they may feel like
they got punched in the stomach and may not respond in a good way.
Plus, Troy could easily be out for much/most of the season. He seems
to miss most of every other season. Clark is getting old/can't cover.
B-Mack sucked this year - was it an ongoing injury or does he just
suck now? Ike is still solid, but a FA. Woodley could be gone. Smith
may be just too old. Hampton too. OL will not automatically be improved,
as even when we had the original starters, they really were still a bottom
10 (or 5) O line. So, even if Starks, Colon, etc. come back, will they be
all that good?

Whoever thought we would miss the play offs in 2009, after we win a SB
in 2008, after having one of the hardest schedules ever, followed by the
2009 season, where we had - on paper - one of the easiest schedules ever?

We didn't see the collapse and 5-game losing streak coming, with losses
to the horrid (at the time) Chiefs, Raiders and Browns.

I could see Pgh having a hang over from this. I think they may feel like
they got punched in the stomach and may not respond in a good way.
Plus, Troy could easily be out for much/most of the season. He seems
to miss most of every other season. Clark is getting old/can't cover.
B-Mack sucked this year - was it an ongoing injury or does he just
suck now? Ike is still solid, but a FA. Woodley could be gone. Smith
may be just too old. Hampton too. OL will not automatically be improved,
as even when we had the original starters, they really were still a bottom
10 (or 5) O line. So, even if Starks, Colon, etc. come back, will they be
all that good?

It is no given that this team will contend next year.

true on a lot of your points, we don't know for sure, and I'm probably sipping the cool-aid but I think we will be back, real soon. this team is too good to *not* compete, seriously. next season will show how valuable tomlin is (or isn't) to this team's success. head coach has a big influence on how motivated the team will be after a big letdown like a sb loss.